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Sustainability Symposium


Dickinson students, faculty, staff and alumni observed the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by attending an three-day Sustainability Symposium on the Dickinson campus. The much-anticipated event underscores the college's longstanding commitment to sustainable living.

“Environmental and sustainability concerns now permeate virtually every issue, problem and opportunity at every conceivable level—local, state, national and global,” said President William G. Durden '71, as he delivered the event's opening remarks on April 15. “At Dickinson, we have a responsibility to prepare our students to meet these challenges.”

The symposium featured talks and panel discussions by Dr. Anthony Cortese, president of Second Nature; Jan Jarrett, president and CEO of PennFuture; Bruce Schlein, vice president of corporate sustainability at Citi; Donald Graham, founder and chairman of The Graham Group; Bernard David P'13, venture partner of enerTech Capital; Gil Sperling '77, senior advisor for policy and programs of the U.S. Department of Energy; and Rick Shangraw '81, vice president of research and economic affairs at Arizona State University. [Article continues below.]


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  • Jenn Halpin, director of the College Farm, gives a tour of the grounds.
    Educational Hayride
  • Who needs a convertible on a beautiful spring day when you have a wagon? Above, Matt Steiman, assistant farm manager, leads symposium participants on a tour of the Dickinson College Farm.
    Open-Air Adventures
  • Pinto Bean, the College Farm mascot, investigates the tour cart as Jenn Halpin, the farm's director, speaks to tour-goers about the farm's sustainable operations.
    College Farm
  • A slide show offers an overview of sustainability at Dickinson.
    A Picture of Sustainability
  • President William G. Durden '71 delivers the symposium's opening address.
    Blue Tie, Green Heart
  • Neil Leary, director of the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education, offers comments during a slide show, Sustainably Dickinson: A Virtual Tour.
    Virtual Tour
  • The many benefits of incorporating sustainability into the curriculum are outlined in this slide.
    Sustainable Academics
  • Don Hasseltine, vice president for college advancement, Rick Shangraw '81, Jim Rainey, Sylvia Smith '73, Ken Shultes '89, interim vice president for campus operations and John Bellingham P'13 take part in a round-table discussion.
    Workshopping
  • Michael Fratantuono, associate professor of international business studies, business and management; Jim Wiley '83; Neal Abraham '73; Charlie Smith '68; Bernard David '13; Helena Kolenda of the Henry Luce Foundation; Candie Wilderman, professor of environmental studies; and Heather Champion '97, regional development officer, discuss sustainability at Dickinson today.
    Dickinson Today
  • Lee Epstein ’75 makes a point about institutional sustainability in the classroom, in study-abroad programs, campus operations and the community. From left: Julie Vastine'03, director of the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring; Neil Leary, director of Dickinson’s Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education; Lee Epstein '75; Bruce Schlein, vice president of corporate sustainability for Citi; and Jane Lehmer Alexander '51.
    A Valid Point
  • Sustainability Coordinator Kate Consroe '09 (right) dialogs with the Henry Luce Foundation’s Helena Kolenda.
    Kate Consroe '09
  • Jim Wiley '83 raises a question. Wiley, who earned a political-science degree at Dickinson, is founder and CEO of The Wiley Group.
    Jim Wiley '83
  • Rick Shangraw '81 reports on key ideas that emerged in his discussion group. Shangraw is vice president for research and economic affairs at Arizona State University.
    Rick Shangraw '81
  • Sarah Brylinski, sustainability education coordinator, speaks about sustainability-related learning and research at Dickinson.
    Sarah Brylinski
  • Marc Spitzer '79, a commissioner for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, delivers his discussion group's findings.
    Marc Spitzer '79
  • Thom Wallace '99 delivers the main points from his group.
    Thom Wallace '99
  • Keynote speaker Tony Cortese addresses the audience in the Rector Science Complex. Cortese is founder and president of Second Nature, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping higher-education institutions make sustainability and just action a foundation of learning.
    Tony Cortese
  • President William G. Durden '71 and Stu Lamb '64 inspect the college's central energy plant. The college uses a renewable fuel developed by Lamb.
    Stu Lamb '64
  • With the aid of this equipment, the Dickinson campus is powered by Viesel, a renewable fuel made from waste vegetable oil.
    Viesel Power
  • The fire inside one of the boilers offers a flashy photo opportunity.
    Fire Within
  • Stu Lamb '64 discusses viesel with President Durden.
    Viesel
  • A student panel prepares to present their findings from Michael Fratanuono's course, Going Green: Challenges and Opportunities. From left: Ludmila Palei ’10, Tsvetana Dzhuvinova ’10, Clara Sanguinetti ’10, Chris DeArmond ’10, Chris Richard '10, Dylan Shiffer '12, Kristen Lee '10 and Andre Lekich ’10.
    Students Speak Out
  • Students offer their insiders' perspectives on sustainability at Dickinson.
    Student Panel
  • Chris DeArmond '10 and Chris Richards '10 present their research on Dickinson's printing and laundry quotas.
    Student Assessments
  • Kristen Lee '10 discusses Dickinson's recycling practices as her fellow student presenters Dylan Shiffer '12 (left) and André Lekich '10 look on.
    Kristen Lee '10
  • Dylan Shiffer '12 weighs in on the issue.
    Dylan Shiffer '12
  • Dickinsonians unite in the effort to advance sustainability education. Front row (from left): Bernard David P'13; Tara Renault, associate director of college advancement; Kellie Newton '81; Ann Yoachim '99; Sustainability-Education Coordinator Sarah Brylinsky; Regional-Development Officer Heather Champion '97; Rick Shangraw '81 and Charles Smith '68. Middle row (from left): Gil Sperling '77, P'13, Chris Van Buskirk, associate vice president for college advancement and associate provost; Neil Weissman, provost and dean of the college; Michael Fratantuono, professor of international studies, business and management; John Bellingham P'13; Donna Wiley; Neal Abraham '73; Sylvia Smith '73; Jane Lehmer Alexander '51; Leo Motium; and a parent of a current Dickinson student. Back row (from left): Don Hasseltine, vice president for college advancement; Robert Beckelheimer '82, regional development officer; Lee Epstein '75; Thom Wallace '99; Interim Vice President of Campus Operations Ken Shultes '89; Howard Lalli '90; and President William G. Durden '71. 
    United in Purpose
  • John Bellingham, father of environmental-studies major Tanya Bellingham '13, takes the floor.
    John Bellingham P'13
  • Howard Lalli '90, a former history major who is now president of Ecological Strategy, speaks to the audience.
    Howard Lalli '90
  • Rick Shangraw '81, vice president of research and economic affairs at Arizona State University, synthesizes the discussions from the symposium.
    Rick Shangraw '81
Jenn Halpin, director of the College Farm, gives a tour of the grounds. Prev ImageNext Image

A longstanding priority

Dickinson has been nationally lauded for its efforts to facilitate related learning and practices, both in and out of the classroom. A trailblazer in the field, Dickinson established an environmental-studies program in the 1970s. The college's involvement in sustainable education has only deepened in the decades since, with the founding of the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) program in the 1980s and the establishment of the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education in 2008. Related coursework, programs and events have grown exponentially in recent years.

“While we have clearly emerged as a leader in this area, it is imperative that we continue to press forward to solidify our permanence and to ensure that sustainability becomes a unique and defining characteristic of a Dickinson education,” noted President Durden. “Our challenge is to find ways to continue to set the standard in environmental and sustainability undergraduate education in the United States—and, potentially, globally—as these issues are destined to play a central role in the 21st century.”

by MaryAlice Bitts
Photos by A. Pierce Bounds '71